3.0 out of 5 stars
Amusing first Asterix feature., April 23, 2002
The trauma of the Nazi Occupation was deflected for decades in France by celebrating the myth of the heroic Resistance, a myth that filtered down as far as children's literature, and the creation of Asterix the Gaul, valiant warrior of the one French village to resist the Roman invasion. With his beefy menhir-wielding chum Obelix and the magic potion prepared by the druid Getafix, Asterix successfully warded off the Roman threat, emasculating an empire that had conquered by force, but weren't trained to use their heads. It doesn't take a genius to work out that the magic potion is the famously indomitable French pride and patriotic 'spirit'.
This first Asterix film retains the look of the wonderful books, with mixed results. On the plus side, this gives an agreeable familiarity to the film, Goscinny's round, broad draughtsmanship as expert at drawing the recognisable features of favourite characters, the precise spaces in which the adventure is played out (homely village; ambiguous forest, source of sustenance and potion, but also crawling with enemies; and the stern classicism of the Roman garrison), and abstract flourishes when necessary, such as the geometrical displays of endless Roman military might.
Unfortunately, what burst with cartoon life in book form looks static on screen - the characters move like stiff cut-outs against unchanging backgrounds, like back-projection on old Hollywood movies. This was obviously due to budgetary constraints, but the lack of interaction between character and environment results in narrative attenuation. The film-makers try to hide this by rapid editing, busy foreground action and annoyingly jaunty music, but the result isn't always convincing. The dubbing, by famous British thesps, is unbearable, and many of the names have been unaccountably and unforgivably changed.
'Asterix The Gaul' remains watchable because of economical storytelling (characters and context are briskly established in the opening minutes: Hollywood, take note), entertaining set-pieces and a fairly witty screenplay. ...It is the petty ambitions and organisational imbecilities of the mighty Roman legion that provoke most laughs in this amiable feature.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4.0 out of 5 stars
laughed so hard, we threw the plane off course., October 28, 1999
By A Customer
Watched this on the redeye to Paris. Became intimate friends with the guy sitting next to me because were both watching and were reprimanded by the flight attendant for being too loud.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Asterix Movie Ever Made, April 30, 1999
By A Customer
Asterix is the funniest video collection ever made. Just watching these cartoons give you the best feeling. It makes me want to create my own magic potion and hang out with a fat, strong , cool guy like Obelix. Buy it! You won't be sorry!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
